My new banner by Kelly Schwark
Sunday, Mar 8 2009

This young lady did a wonderful job on my new banner for etsy.com.
It is much cleaner and readable and a little fun! Just like me.

In her own words:*What would you like people to know about you as a person?

I am the mother of a VERY curious and active toddler, the wife of an amazing and hard working husband and I am an artist. The roles of mother, wife, and artist are always overlapping but that’s the fun part for me! Life is crazy, but I always try and stop to give thanks for all that I have been blessed to receive.

* Tell me a bit about your art and your products? What inspires you?

Much of my artwork is inspired by the surrounding natural beauty that can be found anywhere that you stop long enough to appreciate. My mind is always analyzing textures, compositions, color, and the play of light. I have been trying out different things in my Etsy shop (keeps my creativity fresh!) and have created everything from hand painted children’s furniture to painted glassware to holiday cards to original illustrations. Most recently, you can also find me playing around on my computer creating banners, avatars and digital designs. BUT my true love of art comes through when I am able to paint and draw custom pieces of “things of meaning” for people. In particular, there is always such anticipation when I am waiting for the response of a home portrait! It never fails to thrill my heart when I hear how much my clients LOVE their portraits! Home is where so many of our memories are made, and I just adore being able to capture them for other people. I know it may sound a bit silly, but I always imagine the stories that are told in front of the paintings that I create. “Remember that time when….”

*What is your most important lesson since starting your business?

The mot important lesson since starting my own business is: USE NAPTIMES WISELY! Actually, I’d have to say that everything is a learning process. I do not have a degree, but I am confident in the fact that with or without one, we are ALL learning as we go along. Life would be so very boring without lessons, wouldn’t it? They aren’t always easy, but the lessons that take the most out of us, always seem to be the most rewarding in the long run! Every new venture needs optimism to grow, and a business isn’t any different. I have to say that having a supportive husband who is always encouraging me has been the biggest asset. We’ve been together since high school but even 14 years later, he is STILL teaching me to be more optimistic!

*Do you twitter? Do you blog? Where else can we find you?
At the moment, my blog and twitter accounts feel slightly neglected! Whenever I make the time to update, I always spend most of it reading other posts! Feel free to swing by and read my posts and you may very well see a new one pop up in the next few days! I spend much of my “free time” updating my two Etsy shops and website.